Today in The Journal News
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Dec 23, 2009 
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The Yankees made their third trade of the month on Tuesday, sending Melky Cabrera and two prospects to the Braves for starting pitcher Javier Vazquez and left-handed reliever Boone Logan. As I wrote for today’s newspaper, general manager Brian Cashman said the Yankees are unlikely to add another “big piece” this winter. With Vazquez in the mix, the bulk of the Yankees offseason shopping might be finished.
As Sam wrote, the Yankees have made moves that will help next season, but they haven’t given up the future in the process. By trading for Vazquez and Curtis Granderson without surrendering Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain or Jesus Montero, the Yankees have added big pieces without losing their top young players.
At this point, when Cashman says that something is unlikely to happen the opposite seems likely to occur.
I would like to see them add Mark DeRosa though. He plays sound baseball and can play the infield or outfield. He would be a very versatile piece that would enable the Yankees to rest A-Rod from time to time and allow a day orr for some of the outfielders.
Now Hal has to trade places with Cash and be a GM/Owner for a day and order a Holliday signing. This takes the heat off Cash for saying they are not looking to add a big piece for LF. It also marks the beginning of the Hal era as a true prodige of his dad.
It is the right fit at the right time but it needs Hals doing.
Get it done young Steinbrenner.
By the way, what’s the deal with Nady? Any chance of adding him?
Certainly Holliday makes this team better, but is it worth the cost of payroll/roster flexibility in 2011? Would you certainly take him over Crawford if that were the choice?
DeRosa would be a less expensive piece to the puzzle and he could share LF with Gardner while also providing depth elsewhere.
Another option, more bench oriented would be to try and add Ty Wigginton as a part time DH, utility guy. His AB with Baltimore are now iffy with the signing of Atkins there.
Marlon Byrd could be a LF option, but beware of guys coming off career years, they tend to get over paid. Still he would be a solid LF, leave Gardner as the 4th OF and give the lineup perfect balance with three LH hitters, three RH hitters and three switch hitters.
I couldn’t help myself last night and did some ‘trolling’ on the Boston Globe blog. Pete was taunting Yankee fans about the Yankee Payroll. I pointed out that the Yankees were much more ‘home grown’…many snarky responses followed. But it struck me (and I really enjoyed Pete!) how much more ‘professional’ this blog reads now.
“I’d be happy having Gardner and the Rule 5 guy out in left this year. Having some speed and defense in the number 9 hole isn’t a bad thing. Let the team start like it is constructed now and we can always pick up a LF piece during the season if necessary”
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this is the most intelligent post, in the last 2 days
I meant to mention Nady… if he’s healthy that’s an even better one-year possibility.
Putting Cashman in complete control of this team is paying off dividends. Adding DeRosa for LF won’t be considered a “big signing” but is a smart move, given he can play other defensive positons. Still waiting to see if Johnny comes crawling back and ends up taking a 1yr/5M deal…
“Would you certainly take him over Crawford if that were the choice?”
Everyday of the week and twice on Sunday.
This has nothing to so with whether or not the Yankees sign Holliday but you folks that think Crawford is a better player must just be disregarding every stat other than steals and the fact that Crawford (a speed guy ) is entering his 30s and has played his whole career on turf. Even if you make the stretch that Crawford has been the better player to this point, he is much less likely to be moving forward because of the type of player he is.
If it were a choice of Crawford or Holliday, I would choose Holliday. Aside from the speed, Holliday just has better numbers. Also you get the upgrade in left a year sooner making it more likely to repeat.
Crawford isn’t going to be cheaper unless the economy falls even harder than it already has. If the economy improves then Crawford will probably get a higher salary in contract.
That’s assuming he won’t re-sign with the Rays. Both he and the Rays sound as if they want to stay together.
Crawford has been Mr DevilRay, like forever. It will be interesting whether he hits the market.
this we know: either Crawford or BJ Upton will be their team in the future. Not both
As Sam wrote, the Yankees have made moves that will help next season, but they haven’t given up the future in the process. By trading for Vazquez and Curtis Granderson without surrendering Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain or Jesus Montero, the Yankees have added big pieces without losing their top young players.
Correct Chad and therein lies the real upside to the deals Cashman has made.
In the case of Boston, they’d desperately like to have Adrian Gonzalez but not at the cost of stripping their farm system of any top prospects. Buchholz would be the front piece of any deal anyplace and puts them in a danger zone if injury happens to Beckett, Lester, Matsuzaka, or Wakefield.
Totally agree…..Holliday > Crawford. Once Carl’s speed diminishes he’s very one dimensional
Please pardon my ignorance on this one, but I’ve read on the blog that Cervelli is projected to be the back up to Posada, but what happened to Molina? Did he leave as a free agent, and where did he sign?
Thanks.
Given the lack of high dollar/long term offers that holliday has reportedly gotten so far, I’d like to see how much of a gambler he is and sign a 1 year 16 mil deal with incentives an an option. That gives the market a chance to rebound both in dollars and years,
As far as Crawford goes, as far as I’m concerned, he’s too much of a long term risk. That turf has beaten up his main assets…his legs.
86w183
December 23rd, 2009 at 9:06 am
Certainly Holliday makes this team better, but is it worth the cost of payroll/roster flexibility in 2011?
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What payroll flexibility will be needed? If we don’t win then everyone will want a Crawford signing for about the same amount. We don’t even know if he will be available or want to be a Yankee.
Holliday wants to be a Yankee from all indications or he would have signed already with the Cardinals.
This just makes too much sense as did the Tex signing.
He hits to all fields with power, hits for average and despite his gaffe in the playoffs is a pretty good defender.
Gardner will get plenty of opportunity to play defense for him and or swish late in games as will Hoffman. Hoffman can spell Grandy from time to time against lefties and Gardner will be running once a game for Posada in a double switch move then replacing an OF for defense. Thats flexibility.
Holliday needs to be in the 5 hole to protect the 4 hitter who for me in this lineup would be Tex.
Jeter RH
Johnson LH
Arod RH
Tex SH
Holliday RH
Posada SH
Cano LH
Swisher SH
Granderson LH
Is that a flexible line up that will get us #28?
Payroll flexibility comes next year when Pettitte and Javy come off the books and we look at trading Swishers escalating salary and signing Lee.
ditmar: Cashman addresed Molina earlier in the off-season. In short, he said if Molina were open to a 1 yr contract, they would be interested. He said, ideally he would like to get Cervelli more at bats in AAA. However, he said if it is not possible, then he knows Cervelli will be ready to go at the ML level
repost form prior thread:
Just getting caught up on last nights posts.
A few random thoughts in passing:
G.Love, Pitt, Saint, Blake-
though I dont always agree with you.
I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank the 4 of you
for bringing some crisp reasoning and cogency to the board.
Props to all of you.
The Lucky Men:
Hal – for inheriting his father’s vision and passion for winning, and his checkbook.
Cash- To have the opportunity to achieve GrandMaster status
playin chess while representing the most storied Franchise in all of sports.
Joe G- To be handed the keys to drive the most powerful Machine ever built for as long as he can keep it on the road and winning.
These are some of the lucky men.
Will anyone else get a chance to come and join them ?
I have no problems with the “new” tone. To each his own, really. Sam, Josh and Chad are each pros and having three excellent points of view is just an amazing luxury.
I don’t think Pete was “unprofessional” or less professional than our current liaisons to The Show, just different. He’s an old-school, hardboiled, curmudgeon in the making.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/curmudgeon
Truth be told I am becoming very suspicious of words like “professional” and “diversity” because they carry such a heavy overtone but mean such different things to different people and are used primarily as euphemisms. Soon enough they are going to lose their meaning altogether.
In Pete’s memory, here’s to guys who calls ‘em likes they sees ‘em.
GB 7 —
I speculated the very same thing earlier in the week or maybe it was over the weekend.
At some point might Holliday just take a shot on a one year deal, especially somewhere he is certain to be in a pennant race/post season and hope the economy rebounds?
It seems like any long term deal will pale in comparison to what similar players got in recent years.
Yankeetrader, the Holliday situation is much different than the Teixera situation….Holliday will cost about half as much
Thanks, Vinny-B!
This year – Holliday
Next year – Cliff Lee
at this time i expect Boston wishes they had not signed Cameron. Holliday could have been signed in his place.
either this, or Boston does not rate Holliday very high. Strange
murphydog
December 23rd, 2009 at 9:23 am
I have no problems with the “new” tone. To each his own, really. Sam, Josh and Chad are each pros and having three excellent points of view is just an amazing luxury.
I don’t think Pete was “unprofessional” or less professional than our current liaisons to The Show, just different. He’s an old-school, hardboiled, curmudgeon in the making.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/curmudgeon
Truth be told I am becoming very suspicious of words like “professional” and “diversity” because they carry such a heavy overtone but mean such different things to different people and are used primarily as euphemisms. Soon enough they are going to lose their meaning altogether.
In Pete’s memory, here’s to guys who calls ‘em likes they sees ‘em.
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I have to disagree with using the term “hardboiled, curmudgeon” in referring to PA. That’s reserved as a term of endearment and it’s a hard earned and time honored term.
Ansky-
And tommorrow the WORLD !
I take no issue with people who call ‘em like they see ‘em.
I do take issue with people who mock others for not seeing ‘em like they call ‘em.
Somehow the idea of aliens landing in Central Park became more of a reality to me after finding this blog.
MTU,
I enjoy your posts. Sure they are a little unconventional and imaginative but they are entertaining.
As it stands now, I’m reading the current NYY payroll @ 198M. If Yankees indeed want to stay under last years 201M payroll and still sign a LF’er, they can look at dumping either or both of arbitration eligibles Gaudin/Mitre[both might free up 4-4.5M]. for prospects-wouldn’t expect much in return.
Holliday certainly doesn’t fit into this scenario-I don’t care how creative the Yankees could be.
DeRosa wants some 5-6M x 2-3 years, is coming off a terrible 2nd half, has a wrist injury and doesn’t fit getting younger but does fit in versatility.
Byrd will have several offers for three years and we don’t want to tie up that position for three years, with the upcoming 2010 class of FA’s.
It is known these clubs like Gardner-Royals, Cubs, Padres, and before they traded for Pierre-the White Sox.
DeJesus makes 4.6M this year with a club option for 6M. Might he fit under the X-mas tree?
Other less appealling choices, if the Yankees don’t forsee a platoon of Gardner/Hoffmann in Lf is to sign a cheap FA like Gomes or Reed Johnson to fill the slot. Nady had his 2nd TJ surgery qnd who knows if he’ll be able to make throws from the OF.
Last option is to go to camp with Gardner and Hoffman and see what happens as by then they’ll probably have a choice of free agents not offered major league contracts, or sign an option to a minor league contract.
I’m not convinced Holliday is a better all around player than Crawford. His OPS is significantly higher, but Crawford is the better defensive outfielder and far superior baserunner. He’s also a year and a half younger.
I’m a greedy guy, though and the lineup with Holliday is flat out sick. The bottom three (Cano, Swish, Grandy) could hit somewhere in the 80-100 HR range.
pete is definitely not old-skool. Old-skool is peoples like Mike Ditka and Mike Singletary
Vinny-
Henry is too cheap ! Except when it comes to himself.
“At some point might Holliday just take a shot on a one year deal, especially somewhere he is certain to be in a pennant race/post season and hope the economy rebounds?”
Not very Boras-like. Further, in St. Louis, where a 5 year offer exists, he’s pretty certain to be in a pennant race/postseason scenario. He’s crazy to risk injury in a one year deal, when he has 5 with options. A bird in hand and all. I think the Yankees would have to pony up the full 5 years to make it happen.
Yes, if given the choice I would take Holliday over Crawford in a heartbeat. That said, we’ve got so many big, long-term contracts and another one would be a concern.
Blake-
thanks. You have a future as a Diplomat.
Yankeetrader, the Holliday situation is much different than the Teixera situation….Holliday will cost about half as much
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blake-
I think you meant to reply to Yankee Ray.
86w183
December 23rd, 2009 at 9:24 am
GB 7 —
I speculated the very same thing earlier in the week or maybe it was over the weekend.
At some point might Holliday just take a shot on a one year deal, especially somewhere he is certain to be in a pennant race/post season and hope the economy rebounds?
It seems like any long term deal will pale in comparison to what similar players got in recent years.
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It really does make sense for both parties. It makes him drive hard to boost his numbers in a contract year and I can’t think of a better team for him to jack up his numbers than hitting #5 in this lineup. seems like a win/win to me.
yankee trader:
of the above options i definitely believe Nady is the ideal one. A 1 year incentive offer to get his value up. He will not get any better offers till next year. And Nady is a proven NY player
Nady, Gardner, Hoffmann = not bad at all
I only recall Cash saying that Molina is an injury risk – that he can’t play too often without getting hurt himself. That’s not a good quality in a backup catcher.
There will be a ton of LF types available in January for Cash to pick from. I don’t see Gardner as an everyday OF, though I wish he were, I love his defense and speed. I see the Yankees trading Gaudin (who has actual value because he’s pretty good), and signing someone left without a chair when the music stops for 2-4M 1 year. I remember that LF was a revolving door for the Yankees for a long time before Matsui, and it didn’t hurt them one bit with big hitters like Bernie and O’Neil in CF and RF.
We don’t need Holliday, and I don’t want a team where everyone is on a 5-8 year deal. Those are untradable contracts.
Nady doesn’t interest me at all. He’s not that good and the man has had 2 TJ surgeries….no thanks.
GB, I would not be interested in Holliday for only 1 year…What’s the point? To go through the LF merry-go-round again? We’d have the same issue next year that we do this….
GB-
with respect to your idea on Holliday I cite my answer as follows. It is based on a song you might remember.
“I dig sixteen tons and what do I get ……”
of the above options i definitely believe Nady is the ideal one. A 1 year incentive offer to get his value up. He will not get any better offers till next year. And Nady is a proven NY player
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Vinny-b, Nady is a proven NY player, for the Mets maybe? He regressed in the half season he played here after coming from Pittsburgh. I’m not saying he’s a bad player, but he really hasn’t showcased anything as a Yankee IMO.
In defense of Pete Abe – as annoying as some of his writing habits may be, his comments were always more insightful than what you get from anyone else. His ability to see the logic of a situation is excellent and I always felt like I was reading some truly useful insights.
From Pete’s twitter,
Now that the #Yankees have made another move, expect the #Mets to sign another backup catcher any minute now.
about 21 hours ago from TweetDeck
I’m a greedy guy, though and the lineup with Holliday is flat out sick.
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This type of thinking is exactly the Yankees are despised by a large section of the baseball world.
The team as it currently stands is far superior to any other MLB team. Enough already.
At some point might Holliday just take a shot on a one year deal, especially somewhere he is certain to be in a pennant race/post season and hope the economy rebounds?
————————————————
You both make a good point.
If the Yankees were to give him a large signing bonus and a contract with easily reached incentives, does that possibly fit within their salary structure to stay under 200M AAV? However with Werth and Crawford possibly not signed to extensions and being on the FA market, will this make him a less valuable piece as a FA next year?
I think the best option for the Yanks in LF is Marlon Byrd.
He is above average at the plate and maybe slightly above average in a corner OF spot. Plus he only made 3 mil and change last year so he might accept a deal for 5-7 million.
“Not very Boras-like. Further, in St. Louis, where a 5 year offer exists, he’s pretty certain to be in a pennant race/postseason scenario. He’s crazy to risk injury in a one year deal, when he has 5 with options. A bird in hand and all. I think the Yankees would have to pony up the full 5 years to make it happen”
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I agree. The world economy is uncertainty. Take the money and run. If Holliday’s offers were from lesser places (think Washington Nationals, Mets etc) expect i would view it differently. However ST Louis is a very desirable place to play
yankeetrader, sorry bout that.
Betsy -high on pie
December 23rd, 2009 at 9:37 am
Nady doesn’t interest me at all. He’s not that good and the man has had 2 TJ surgeries….no thanks.
GB, I would not be interested in Holliday for only 1 year…What’s the point? To go through the LF merry-go-round again? We’d have the same issue next year that we do this….
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It does a couple of things, Betsy. It gives NY a chance to see if Holliday has problems under the microscope of NY, it allows NYY to find a better answer and it buys NYY time for their kids to develop.
I don’t care what other teams and other fans think and I don’t think we’re greedy for wanting Holliday; I don’t think the Yankees would be greedy for getting him either. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to improve and we have a need at LF. This is not like suggesting we get David Wright to back up Alex Rodriguez
It would not be a concern to have multiple guys sharing LF, but an upgrade over Gardner and Hoffman would be nice.
It might make the most sense to build the bench with the ability to play LF in mind. That’s why trading for Ty Wigginton is something I would love to see happen. He’s only 32, plays a ton of positions and unlike DeRosa is only gonna cost one year and $ 3 Mill plus whatever B-list prospect Baltimore wants
Where is this myth of the too many long term contracts coming from? there are only five guys with guarantees for 2012… Alex, Tex, CC, AJ and Granderson. Dassitt
Swisher and Cano have options only with inexpensive buyouts. Jeter and Rivera, obviously TBA.
One advandagte to signing Holliday versus waiting for Crawford is what the market appears to be this yr compared to what it appears like it could be next yr.
The teams in the market for Holliday seem few so there’s less competion. The RS will have more room for payroll next yr so they could possibly be in on Crawford as well which will drive the price up. Also if the economy improves it adds more teams in the mix for Crawford.
Cashman seems to have a good handle on what’s ahead when he makes decisions.
An unidentified scout was quoted in the News this morning as giving the edge to CC over Beckett and Vasquez over Dmat while rating Lester over Pettitte and Lackey over AJ. Fair enough, I suppose. But can he be serious about this:
The Scout Says: “I don’t care if it’s Chamberlain or Hughes who’s the Yankees’ No. 5, I’ll take Buchholz over both of them.
Edge: Red Sox
Thoughts?
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....z0aVriduDr
GB, it’s an interesting proposal and one that Holliday might want to consider, but the Yankees? They don’t have any OF prospects that are less than 3 or 4 years away, so I’m not sure how much it would help us.
“Vinny-b, Nady is a proven NY player, for the Mets maybe? He regressed in the half season he played here after coming from Pittsburgh. I’m not saying he’s a bad player, but he really hasn’t showcased anything as a Yankee IMO”
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correct. He has proven nothing as a Yankee Personally, i view Nady as a very vanilla player, doesn’t do any 1 thing great. However, compare to what we know is available, he looks to be ideal on a 1 yr incentive contract
I don’t know if it has been said yet, but Cashman was on MLB Network last night and intimated that another signing was on the horizon. That he couldn’t (wouldn’t) comment on it until the team makes it official and all the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed but that it’s something that won’t be unexpected when it’s announced. It’s possible he was just talking about the Nick Johnson deal but Verducci believes it will either be Mark DeRosa or a 1 year deal for either Vlad or Dye to play RF and shift Swisher to LF.
He (Cashman) also said that the door is completely closed on Johnny Damon.
MTU: henry ?
Vrsce
December 23rd, 2009 at 9:40 am
I’m a greedy guy, though and the lineup with Holliday is flat out sick.
==================================================
This type of thinking is exactly the Yankees are despised by a large section of the baseball world.
The team as it currently stands is far superior to any other MLB team. Enough already.
——-
Oh and if we don’t sign Holliday everyone will see us differently?
Lets just stick em now and throw the haymaker. We are the richest team in baseball and play by the rules. F em all and go for 28 because thats what we all want. It would be nice to win with rookies but Bostons rotation is very good and our lineup is in need of a better 5 hitter.
So are we all looking for a low budget answer in LF so others won’t look at us like they will anyway?
I ran into a Red Sox fan last week and I said nice signing of Lackey, now you guys are approaching our payroll at 170mm. His response was no we’re going down in payroll and you are going up? Perception is a funny thing. Go get Holliday and lets go get #28 already.
Betsy-
The most beautiful and majestic bird need not fear being knocked off of it’s perch by common swallows.
They are only a nuisance which hardly causes the Eagle to blink.
Chris from NJ
December 23rd, 2009 at 9:36 am
There will be a ton of LF types available in January for Cash to pick from. I don’t see Gardner as an everyday OF, though I wish he were, I love his defense and speed. I see the Yankees trading Gaudin (who has actual value because he’s pretty good), and signing someone left without a chair when the music stops for 2-4M 1 year. I remember that LF was a revolving door for the Yankees for a long time before Matsui, and it didn’t hurt them one bit with big hitters like Bernie and O’Neil in CF and RF.
We don’t need Holliday, and I don’t want a team where everyone is on a 5-8 year deal. Those are untradable contracts.
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Please provide this great list of future left fielders for NYY to draw on. Crawford is the only known and acceptable name.
did anyone see Damon kiss that broad? Dan Plesaac is a hilarious
As someone who ended up a target for Pete’s vitriol on more than one occassion – mostly for having the audacity to have different opinions from his and sticking with those opinions – I have to say that I much prefer the genteel approach brought by the three tenors. In addition, they keep us up-to-date and informed. I don’t need to be highly entertained in the process. They write well, they are articulate, and they are kind in their approach. That definitely works for me!
****************
As someone who is seldom at odds with anything the Yankee organization decides to do, I have to go on record as saying that I think the Vasquez signing comes with a ton of question marks. It isn’t about Mleky being traded, despite my love for the kid. It’s about thinking that a leopard doesn’t change its spots. I don’t think Vasquez was cut out for the Bronx. I don’t know that those things manage to right themselves. Time will tell, but this is one signing that makes me entirely uneasy.
Oops, GB -I missed that part about it giving time for the Yanks to find a better answer. Interesting…..I don’t see it happening, though….esp. on Holliday’s end.
It does a couple of things, Betsy. It gives NY a chance to see if Holliday has problems under the microscope of NY, it allows NYY to find a better answer and it buys NYY time for their kids to develop.
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GB7 and Betsy-
I see the advantage for the Yankees but don’t really see the advantage for Holliday in not taking the sure thing now.
Vinny-
Isn’t he the owner of the Sox.
he treats his team like one of his hedge funds IMO.
Tin Man- needs to find a heart so his team can find one.
Betsy -high on pie
December 23rd, 2009 at 9:46 am
GB, it’s an interesting proposal and one that Holliday might want to consider, but the Yankees? They don’t have any OF prospects that are less than 3 or 4 years away, so I’m not sure how much it would help us.
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Depends on how far kids like Daniel Brewer, Krum, Curtis and a couple of others can advance this coming year.
I think the best option for the Yanks in LF is Marlon Byrd.
Patrick -
I have mixed emotions about Byrd. On the one hand he is a solid defensive option. On the other he has only had one really average/above average offensive season in his career and that was last year.
True the same could be said about DeRosa and Byrd has better defensive skills than DeRosa.
MTU: may bad. It is early yet : )
Will, Whoever said Buchholz over Joba/Hughes is an idiot.
If the only games Buchholz has to play are against the jays and orioles, then sure. But Clay has 1 win not against those two teams.
There is no way Vlad plays RF. The guy can hardly run
If the Yankees were to give him a large signing bonus and a contract with easily reached incentives, does that possibly fit within their salary structure to stay under 200M AAV?
_________________________
I think creative accounting is beside the point. This isn’t the NFL or NBA where teams do what they can do work around cap rules.
If indeed the $200 rule exists, that’s just a thumbnail representation of what the Yankees would like or like not to spend this year.
I don’t think moving signing bonuses or including incentive to other columns in the ledger is the point.
Vinny-
no worries.
It may be early for you but it is getting late for some.
Yankee Trader
December 23rd, 2009 at 9:48 am
It does a couple of things, Betsy. It gives NY a chance to see if Holliday has problems under the microscope of NY, it allows NYY to find a better answer and it buys NYY time for their kids to develop.
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GB7 and Betsy-
I see the advantage for the Yankees but don’t really see the advantage for Holliday in not taking the sure thing now.
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I can see a .330 average with 40 doubles, 35 homers and 120 RBI in this lineup. That would put him in Teixeira numbers. Where he could really help himself is working on the defensive part of his game.
“There is no way Vlad plays RF. The guy can hardly run”
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agree. NYY was not open to Matsui playing in the field, but they’re going to get Vlad to play outfield. Yeah that makes sense
We don’t really know that Holliday has a legit five year guarantee from the Cardinals. There have been mulitiple articles that the back end may involve some vesting and that the $$$ are in the $ 15-16/yr range, far below his hopes for compensation.
Byrd is an ideal fit, but I don’t think the Yanks will go multi-year unless its for a big time performer. Byrd will get too much after a year in which he doubled his previous high in HR, topped 70 RBI (89) for the first time and had 65 extra base hits after never having more than 42 before.
The new yankee’s way:
younger, faster, more athletic
And
even more powerful.
The new Murderer’s Row:
Texeira
A-Rod
Holliday
Could be one for the Ages.
Hey, it’s a new ballpark isn’t it ?
The funniest thing that I read yesterday was somebody didn’t want Carl Crawford because he’s aging. Like right now!
Anyway, would be fine with DeJesus, DeRosa, Bay (can we say 2 years?), or Gardner/Hoff/??, Nady.
I mean, we were prepared to go to war with Melky. We don’t need a significant outlay to get a very good LF.
Stafon Johnson (USC weightlifting accident) is speaking. Sounds like he’s got a bad case of laryngitis, but that’s just a wonderful development.
Betsy, you see my question from last night?
Purely curious about who you see as a low-tier, 3rd outfielder type, that you believe is a solid enough player to bat in the bottom third of your order.
Not necessarily a FA or someone the Yanks can get in a trade market, just trying to get a sense of a relatively lower cost option you hypothetically would be comfortable in left field, with the team as presently constituted?
I don’t think Cash would have traded Melky w/o having a LF in mind…altho Gardner was the CF starter last year.
From the mlb hot stove program’s interview w/ Cash it did sound like Johnny is not coming back. I agree Vinny, the WWE clip showing Damon being mauled was hysterical.
It will be interesting to see what Cash’s next move is.
Length of current Yankee contracts:
ARod – 8 yrs
Tex – 7 yrs
CC – 6 yrs
AJ – 4 yrs
Grandy – 3 yrs
Jorge – 2 yrs
Cano – 2 yrs
Swish – 2 yrs
Marte – 2 yrs
Jeter – 1 yr
Mo – 1 yr
Nick J – 1 yr
Andy – 1 yr
Javier – 1 yr
I agree Vinny, the WWE clip showing Damon being mauled was hysterical.
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lol
An unidentified scout was quoted in the News this morning as giving the edge to CC over Beckett and Vasquez over Dmat while rating Lester over Pettitte and Lackey over AJ. Fair enough, I suppose. But can he be serious about this:
The Scout Says: “I don’t care if it’s Chamberlain or Hughes who’s the Yankees’ No. 5, I’ll take Buchholz over both of them.
Edge: Red Sox
Thoughts?
————–
The problem with this is that he’s matched up the wrong pitchers. Lester is now the Sox #1. He and CC are a wash. Beckett and AJ are closer than you think. But AJ’s too inconsistent. I give that to the Sox. I think Pettitte and Lackey are a wash. I think Vazquez is better than DiceK. And there’s no way to tell who is better between the three kids. All have had success as starters and all have been awful.
Honestly, I think it’s a push between the staffs.
“On the other he has only had one really average/above average offensive season in his career and that was last year.”
That’s actually untrue. He’s had 4 average/above average years. 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009
m
December 23rd, 2009 at 9:56 am
The funniest thing that I read yesterday was somebody didn’t want Carl Crawford because he’s aging. Like right now!
Anyway, would be fine with DeJesus, DeRosa, Bay (can we say 2 years?), or Gardner/Hoff/??, Nady.
I mean, we were prepared to go to war with Melky. We don’t need a significant outlay to get a very good LF.
Stafon Johnson (USC weightlifting accident) is speaking. Sounds like he’s got a bad case of laryngitis, but that’s just a wonderful development.
————————————————————
I don’t think anyone said he was aging. It was more of a concern with the pounding his legs have taken over the years, both in the field and on the bases.
The scout makes it sound like CC and Beckett are close – he’s nuts.
I don’t know what to say about Bucholz. At least the kid had a run of good starts – though 99% of them were against the Os and Jays. Joba was Joba outside of 3 starts (so that’s not good) and Phil pitched most of the year out of the pen.
I agree with CC, the staffs are a push. But top to bottome, 1-25, the Yankees are the better team. That’s the only scouting report/comparison I need. Again, people had us finishing 3rd. In the East.
We talked about the Yanks vs Red Sox rotation yesterday.
Sabathia vs Lester – advantage Sabathia (look @ innings pitched)
Burnett vs Beckett – advantage Beckett, although both are inconsistent
Pettitte vs Lackey – advantage Lackey
Vazquez vs Matsuzaka – advantage Vazquez
Chamberlain/Hughes vs Wakefield/Bucholz – I think you have to give advantage to the Yankees here
The true way to do it would be to add up the runs saved over replacement for both starting staffs and compare that number.
No, GB7.
Plenty people said what you’re implying, but someone made like he’s old right now. But Holliday wasn’t. Was pretty entertaining. I think it was a brain fart.
Delusion of Grandeur:
some of you might wish to be crazy like me in the following way:
Jeter
NJ
Tex
A-Rod
Holliday
Po
Grandy
Cano
Swish
Right now I dont have to accept reality. I can still dream, right ?
Doesn’t hurt to dream. Everyone averages six per night.
And I’ve even heard it told that they even make the World go round.
Stuckey, I don’t have any other options, I wish I did. However, I’m sure Cash does. I just don’t like Gardner as a player. Could we start with him and then try and make a deal later? Possibly, but teams will try to hold us up once it’s apparent (though it’s apparent to me now) that BG just can’t hack it. I’m not asking for a batting champ in LF or as 9th place hitter, but Gardner is truly awful. Even his speed is overrated in the sense that he has no instincts whatsoever.
Dejesus in the 2 hole behind Jeter isn’t completely stupid.
Vazquez was a very, very good pitcher for the Yankees in the first half of that season. I think 10-5 was his record and he was on the All-Star team.
He had a very poor second half and an unfortunate playoff game.
I dare say AJ himself had an unfortunate playoff game this season.
And Mariano’s had a couple of missteps in the playoffs himself.
I think Vazquez’ entire body of work speaks more eloquently than a half a season and one game in the Bronx.
I wished he was given the chance to bounce back in ’05, but the boss wanted Randy Johnson instead.
I also believe in redemption and second chances, in growing into “the job,” of being able to learn the craft of pitching from the age of 28 to the age of 33 (as opposed to merely throwing), and learning from one’s mistakes (not telling anyone he had discomfort in his shoulder) and fresh starts.
Sorry, GB7, I think the person implied CC was old, not aging.
Just listened to wfan 660 a caller called in adam the bull about 2 new HR calles for John Sterling
How about these???
Pls reply with yours
ST Nick blasts one to Johnsonville
& the yankees take a ……lead
That’s a Courtesy shot from granderson & the yanks put the bosox to sleep
No, GB7.
Plenty people said what you’re implying, but someone made like he’s old right now. But Holliday wasn’t. Was pretty entertaining. I think it was a brain fart.
————————————————————
I must have missed that little bit of enlightenment, Mel.
I agree with Country Club and m about the comparability of the two starting rotations.
How do Holliday, Bay, and Nady rank as defensive outfielders?
The way the outfield market is shaping up, there will likely be an option out there that can be had on a low-cost, one-year flier.
A name that never seems to be mentioned here is Ankiel. IF he can prove he’s healthy after last year’s wall collision, he might make for an interesting risk. The guy is young(ish) can field/cover a lot of ground and throw out of his mind, and was a very good offensive player the previous two years and if he regains his form would be deadly in NYS.
Put him in the 9th hole, don’t ask him to be a run producer, and you could catch lightning in a bottle.
Strikes out a ton though, even on his good days.
Vasquez is our 4th starter.
No one has a 4th starter as good as him.
In comparing the sox starters, did someone leave our Wakefield?
Betsy -high on pie December 23rd, 2009 at 10:04 am
Stuckey, I don’t have any other options, I wish I did. However, I’m sure Cash does. I just don’t like Gardner as a player. Could we start with him and then try and make a deal later? Possibly, but teams will try to hold us up once it’s apparent (though it’s apparent to me now) that BG just can’t hack it. I’m not asking for a batting champ in LF or as 9th place hitter, but Gardner is truly awful. Even his speed is overrated in the sense that he has no instincts whatsoever.
—————–
Wow Betsy me and you actually sort of agree on something
Im in shock!!
“How do Holliday, Bay, and Nady rank as defensive outfielders?”
From memory, Holliday is above average in LF, Bay is very bad in LF, Nady is about average.
mick
December 23rd, 2009 at 10:04 am
Dejesus in the 2 hole behind Jeter isn’t completely stupid.
————————————————————
Who do you plan on giving up for Dejesus? I can’t imagine they’ll take Gardner. Kidnapping is illegal. If they trade another high value minor league arm, this place will explode.
As the person who has probably been banging the DeJesus drum louder than anyone I will say it’s very unlikely that he winds up with the Yankees at this point.
Brian has made two very significant trades and I don’t think he wants to make any more than that and risk depleting the uppers levels of the farm system.
A trade for DeJesus would likely involve Brett Gardner and either Nova or Aceves as starting points. With Melky gone that would leave Rule V pick up Jamie Hoffmann and Colin Curtis as the only viable OF back-ups and with Kennedy gone a deal of Nova or Aceves would leave the AAA level pretty pitching thin in case of an injury to a starter. True they have Gaudin and Mitre but I just don’t see it happening.
I think at this point a more likely scenario has the Yankees picking up a FA outfielder – whether that’s a Ryan Church, Randy Winn, Mark DeRosa, Marlon Byrd – I don’t know. I do think the odds are very very slim that it will be Holliday or Bay and almost nil that it will be Damon.
By the way, I don’t think it will be Vlad, I was just saying that he was Verducci’s pick.
not a HR call, but I always got a chuckle on sports center highlights when they would say “its not an Anderson, its a GRANDerson”
GB7- are you still smoke free?
How do Holliday, Bay, and Nady rank as defensive outfielders?
Of the three, Holliday is the best, Bay would be the worst, except for the fact that coming off a second Tommy John operation I’m not entirely sure Nady can throw.
Another name to keep in mind would be Rick Ankeil. Easily the best defensive outfielder still available and with his swing in Yankee Stadium he would likely put up some significant offensive numbers.
Betsy, not asking you for someone the Yankees could likely acquire. You can pick ANY outfielder in baseball you see as an acceptable everyday player but still a bottom of the order type.
Are there ANY outfielders in baseball you view as filling a role like that, or should all outfielders be speedy top-of the order CF types, or corner middle of the order run producers?
Name ANY outfielder you’d be cool with batting 9th and playing LF for the Yankees.
Patrick
December 23rd, 2009 at 10:12 am
“How do Holliday, Bay, and Nady rank as defensive outfielders?”
From memory, Holliday is above average in LF, Bay is very bad in LF, Nady is about average.
————————————————————
Nady is as bad as Bay is defensively, and he has a bum arm.
Everybody knows what a “Granderslam” is. Dont they.
Chip,
Good thoughts. Ankiel and Gardner I like. D-Fence. D-Fence. (and won’t cost years & money). And I’d rather see Ankiel in a relief appearance before the Swish.
lol. Is Stuckey trying to imply that Betsy is particular?
Betsy, are you picky when it comes to men, too?
Hey, I said Ankiel first… check the tape
upstate kate
December 23rd, 2009 at 10:14 am
not a HR call, but I always got a chuckle on sports center highlights when they would say “its not an Anderson, its a GRANDerson”
GB7- are you still smoke free?
————————————————————
Depends on what kind of smoke that you’re referring to.
But, to answer your question…yes, I am, Kate. 10 days now.
m
That’s a non-sequitor. doesnt make sense about Betsy.
everyone knows she can have any man she wants.
The problem with Vazquez had to do with his attitude as much as anything else. Perhaps the average bear Yankee fan doesn’t hone in on that stuff. I always do. He didn’t take responsibility for pitching poorly when he unequiovcally started to tank. We’ve all seen where that kind of attitude lands pitchers (see lately: Kennedy, Bruney, Coke).
If there’s a problem and you don’t think there’s a problem, then there is definitely a problem.
This has nothing to do with forgiveness or a second chance. It has everything to do with my thinking that like a slew of pitchers before him, Vazquez isn’t cut out to pitch in the Bronx. Of course, here’s hoping I’m wrong.
“Nady is as bad as Bay is defensively, and he has a bum arm.”
True about the arm but he actually has been an average defensive corner OF throughout his career. Who knows what he’ll be like after a second TJ though.
Ankiel, I don’t like. He’s an average corner OF at best. At worst he’s below average. Not nearly as good as Holliday out there. He also strikes out at a high rate and doesn’t have the OBP to back it up.
“In comparing the sox starters, did someone leave our Wakefield?”
As it stands now, he has spot starter status, no?
“It’s another one for Curtis. That’s just grand, son.
Add another piece to LF and I wouldn’t the slightest bit concerned about going to war tomorrow.
Oxymoron
A stupid peron who likes to breathe a lot of fresh air.
A stupid person who cattle.
Yankee Budget.
I rest my case.
“likes cattle”
I exclude Holliday from my lists because I don’t want another large contract. And until someone convinces me otherwise, I’m going to go with the selective memory thing and say he had bad splits when he was with the Rox.
Nady hit the dumps on offense for his last 6 weeks in 2008. as far as defense, Swisher’s a Gold glove in comparison. He couldn’t cover right field, much less left field,
“From memory, Holliday is above average in LF, Bay is very bad in LF, Nady is about average.”
Correct.
Marlon Byrd is clearly the best corner OF on the market right now outside of Jason Bay and Matt Holliday.
The Yankees really just need a guy that can field his position and put up average numbers in LF. Byrd could be had for a pretty reasonable amount of money I think. He’s better than Ankiel, Nady, Winn, etc
For all the discussion about who plays LF, I think the solution is easier for the Yankees than the RS. The Yankees can get by with a filler while the RS need a big bat.
Rich in NJ
December 23rd, 2009 at 10:27 am
“From memory, Holliday is above average in LF, Bay is very bad in LF, Nady is about average.”
Correct.
***********
Just bring back Johnny Damon for a year….. sigh
Pete Abe would be a first rate novelist.
When he’s on his game he is witty, incisive and readable.
When he is lazy and looking to push buttons he picks on the Yankee payroll, A-Rod, Hank Steinbrenner (or he lauds The N.E. Patriots and hack writers that purport to exhaustively report the facts on A-Rods lifestyle amd Duke LaCrosse).
Pete is more opinionist than journalist.
Pete needs to challenge his God-given ability and write a great novel… that’s his gift… hopefully he does not waste the potential.
I see Reed Johnson’s name popping up, I thought he signed with somebody?
Patrick-
If you’ll accept this from a crazy person. I’ll say i agree with you. As an alternative only.
I want to see Colin Curtis get a shot. I think with the 8 we will put out there, we can afford to see what he’s got.
We’ve all seen where that kind of attitude lands pitchers (see lately: Kennedy, Bruney, Coke).
————————————————————–
Evidently, it lands them on other teams.
And Javier got traded as well.
But if IPK, Bruney or Coke have post-trade careers like Javier has had?
Then I’d be pretty excited to get them back.
Besides all that “accountability” crap is overrated. You want to be accountable? Pitch better! Then you can say whatever you want.
And no one was less “accountable” than Joba last season and he’s not going anywhere.
By signing a one year type LFer this year, who would the Yankees be holding the spot for. There is nothing in the minors even close to ready. Next year it would be the same ole thing, either sign another stopgap or go after Crawford or Werth if they are even available.
And Hinske is a FA no?
Get his for RF and move Swish to left?
Just curious … does Cashman consider Holliday a “big piece”?
or sign Hairston to play regularly in LF. has to be fairly cheap.
tex’s friend
December 23rd, 2009 at 10:30 am
And Hinske is a FA no?
Get his for RF and move Swish to left?
********
Hinske was terrible in RF the few times he played. Swisher would replace him defensively in late innings
Gardy and Hoffman can start the season in LF as a platoon and see if one can win the job.
Bring in a RH batting utility guy that can play 3rd and LF to add to the mix.
Pena can backup SS and 2nd. We have 3 that play first already.
Gerry Hairston would be a good play to bring back at this point if he’s still out there.
Blake-
as usual. You da Man !
There’s a funny thing that happens to athletes. They learn from their mistakes. Can we give Vasquez the benefit of the doubt here?
“If you’ll accept this from a crazy person. I’ll say i agree with you. As an alternative only.”
First, I’ll take what I can get, crazy or not!
Second, as an alternative to whom?
Erica i’m just thinking cheap. Hairston is out there and can play outfield. Wouldn’t mind being here if he played regularly no?
Vazquez’s problems his first time around were:
1. He was very young and thrust from a situation where there was absolutely zero pressure to a situation where every start was life or death.
2. Mel did absolutely nothing to help him because Mel wasn’t really a very good pitching coach for young pitchers.
3. Torre had no confidence in him and so everytime Javy hit a roadblock Joe was out of the dugout making Javy feel as if he had to pitch a perfect game each time out.
4. Javy pitched very well in the first half of the season with the Yankees (10-5; 3.5 ERA) and then had a bad second half.
Chip,
5. He hurt his shoulder sometime in the second half.
Second, as an alternative to whom?
====================================
lol….
m
December 23rd, 2009 at 10:23 am
I exclude Holliday from my lists because I don’t want another large contract. And until someone convinces me otherwise, I’m going to go with the selective memory thing and say he had bad splits when he was with the Rox.
————————————————————
He’s still a .290 road hitter in his career. Yankee Stadium is made for his type of hitter. His power is right/right center field.
tex’s friend
December 23rd, 2009 at 10:34 am
Erica i’m just thinking cheap. Hairston is out there and can play outfield. Wouldn’t mind being here if he played regularly no?
***********
The idea doesn’t exactly have me jumping up and down with excitement. He is cheap- yes. But let’s be honest- he is very average
Patrick-
synonomous with “vacation”
If a Holliday deal is not to be, why not a one-year deal for FA Randy Winn until Crawford is in sight ?
A switch hitting Melky can be replaced by a switch hitting Winn who can play all OF positions.
http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb....._id=133160
Maybe this has already been posted, but Cashman just said on MLB network that he had one more move to make and he was close. The network analysts were speculating a right handed left fielder…
“The Yankees value Crawford more highly than Holliday. Crawford has strengths in more areas than Holliday (defense, baserunning, better contact hitter, etc). The Yankees have players with strength in the one area that Holliday has strength (power hitting). In short, Carl Crawford is a more disruptive force in a postseason game than Holliday.”
correct more or less. Sure, Crawford is a bigger baserunning threat, but he gets on base a hell of a lot less than Holliday.
In this market, Holliday might be a much better value than Crawdaddy in next year’s FA market. shame that they won’t be able to take advantage of that, if in fact they are going to go the FA path as opposed to trade, and we know there is no big LF prospect coming up any time soon. I think with ALL things being equal, $man wants Holliday. things aren’t equal. timing is not right. You want the 4.5 tool player over the 3.5 tools every day
Chip you are clueless…..Torre was absolutely right in getting Javy ouuta there and not starting him in the playoffs. Javy stunk-bottom line. Let’s see if he can pitch in the AL. You heard what he said about how he liked pitching in the NL…….I am sorry but in your return press conf you say that??? Red flag city……Again, if he is the number 4, then it is all good. If they need him to do more, then there is trouble.
I’m actually warming up to the idea that Gardner plays CF, Granderson plays LF.
It’s far too small a sample but there are indications that Gardner could be a better defender than Granderson.
Also, again, a far too small sample but I think Gardner could be close to league average at the plate.
tex’s friend
December 23rd, 2009 at 10:30 am
And Hinske is a FA no?
Get his for RF and move Swish to left?
———————————————-
Have you seen Hinske play the OF?
There is a reason he has changed teams each yr for the last 3 yrs.
GMAN
December 23rd, 2009 at 10:29 am
Pete Abe would be a first rate novelist.
When he’s on his game he is witty, incisive and readable.
————————————————————
yeah, he’s witty half of the time.
(Oh, and it didn’t sound like a large move…)
Erica – always OPPC – Bring Johnny Back!!!
Would he swallow his pride to the extent that he would accept a one year deal at about $5m? If so, that could happen.
GB-
too clever by half ?
Down goes Muhammad Musings………
IS this year that Jeter plays a little LF?
IS this the Year that Montero gets called up to play some DH?
DO the Yanks sign Hinske to platoon LF with Gardner?
Could the Yanks trade Gardiner with no CF backup help?
Do the Yanks sign happy Hairston to platoon with Gardiner?
If McAllister continues to dominate the minors does he get called up?
Can we see the Yanks go with Hoffman/Gardiner and then sign Nagy after the season starts?
Will jonathan albaladejo ever wear a MLB Yankees uniform again?
Will Igawa reduce his salary to 1mm and hope to play in the majors?
HC
Well, Granderson said he would play wherever they needed him to play. But I don’t think he envisioned deferring to GGBG.
I think Granderson can still play an elite CF, but didn’t Gardner have crazy numbers out there this season?
The idea doesn’t exactly have me jumping up and down with excitement. He is cheap- yes. But let’s be honest- he is very average
____
He would be batting 9th in a lineup with 8 allstars. We do not need 9 superstars to win. If hairston can bat .270 /10/50 and fair defense, that would be just fine.
Blake, almost all team’s have positions they go year-to-year with.. Red Sox and SS for example, and LF is one of the easiest position to fill.
The Yankees DO have some outfield prospects in the low minors, Montero’s defensive future is yet to be determined, and no one knows that the trade market will be in future years.
You don’t sign a player you’re not 100% sold on to big money and multiple years.
As the team currently stands, offensively it’s the 9th hole they’ll need to fill for the next 1-2 seasons and that can be done. By 2012, options hard to picture right now could present themselves. Maybe Mekly Meas breaks out in AA this year?
Maybe Heathcott moves through the system rapidly.
Again, the point is, you don’t sign guys to long-term contracts on their own merits. If the merit doesn’t exist, the baseball landscape has a way of rapidly changing from year to year.
“synonomous with “vacation””
Ahhh…
He’s not even entering my thoughts right now. I’m just assuming his pay demands are too high for the Yankees at this time.
Kim Jones on WFAN right now is summing it up perfectly:
If the Yankees want to add payroll they will. As Hal said at the Granderson presser, “if Brian comes to me with something compelling I’m likely to give him the room to do it” but she doesn’t believe that the Yankees consider either Bay or Holliday compelling players. They are very good compared to what else is available this winter, but they’re not really great players.
Now, if it’s mid January and Bay and Holliday are still out there and the Yankees haven’t made a move, it’s anyone’s guess.
But personally I believe the Yankees will wrap this thing up by New Years.
Patrick-
Nah !
If some Yankee fans can’t give Vazquez a 2nd chance then they are as bad as sox fans blaming Buckner all those years. I sincerely hope he does not get booed for something that happened 5 years ago. Actually I don’t like booing your own players anyway…in most cases they are trying their best (maybe that is just the mom side of me)
Well, Granderson said he would play wherever they needed him to play. But I don’t think he envisioned deferring to GGBG.
I think Granderson can still play an elite CF, but didn’t Gardner have crazy numbers out there this season?
___
do we forget gardner DID have the starting job last year, and sucked at the plate? he lasted less than a month before losing his job. then watched him in the playoffs stare at strikes right down the middle.
it would be a crime to move granderson to fit gardner in.
Kate-
I hear the Yankees have a solution for that.
All the Ushers are now required to carry nail guns.
if the Yankees still had Jackson or someone that could potentially play LF in 2011 in the minors then my opinion my be different than it is. However, that’s not the case so unless they Yankees plan on hiring a different midlevel player every year to play LF then why not fix the problem with a quality player this year and do so at a wholesale price.
Rich in NJ
December 23rd, 2009 at 10:39 am
Erica – always OPPC – Bring Johnny Back!!!
Would he swallow his pride to the extent that he would accept a one year deal at about $5m? If so, that could happen.
*********
If it came down to swallowing his pride to play for the Yankees or play for the Braves (or some other random team)….. I think he would choose the Yankees
“Chip you are clueless…..Torre was absolutely right in getting Javy ouuta there and not starting him in the playoffs.”
Vazquez did start in the ALDS. Yankees won the game, but he wasn’t good.
tex,
I was talking about defensive numbers.
And no, I didn’t forget anything.
Noreaster
December 23rd, 2009 at 10:38 am
Maybe this has already been posted, but Cashman just said on MLB network that he had one more move to make and he was close. The network analysts were speculating a right handed left fielder…
**************
Johnny Damon??? Johnny Damon??????
maybe the royals dump salary and do gardner for dejesus even up
“Just bring back Johnny Damon for a year….. sigh”
———————————————–
following that footage of him under the missiletoe, no team wants him
Blake-
poor cash.
he has a shopper’s dilemma.
What do I do ???????
Holliday on sale 1/2 off.
Part 2
Will this be the year that Humberto Sanchez finally makes it to the bigs and sticks? I do
Does Mark Melancon start getting groomed by Rivera as the closer? I do
Will we see some Pena in the outfield this year? I do
Nud
I think Javy was really happy to go to the NL because he was able to leave the White Sox because he did not like the situation there with Ozzie.
Also what pitcher wouldn’t like the NL. Heck CC loved the NL when he was traded to the Brewers and he thought about staying with an NL team.
gardner is the man. his speed gives our line up another dimension and he really makes things happen. i was at the game against the twins when he hit the inside the park home run and started the rally for us. i dont think hes an every day option at this point unless he gets his Avg and OBP up, but he should certainly get some time in the OF. as far as instints hes so fast that he makes up for it. there was 1 instance in the playoffs that he was caught stealing and it hurt the team. he is young though and with some experience he will improve.
blake,
There’s a good chance that a motley crew LF would outperform Jackson. There is no guarantee that Jackson will realize his great potential and be the kind of player Yankee fans wanted him to be.
“it would be a crime to move granderson to fit gardner in.”
If Gardner turns out to be a better CF than Granderson, it would be a “crime” to move him from LF to CF? Really? Isn’t the best plan to put each player in the position that would most help the team win?
And you state that he sucked at the plate for less than a month?
Why does less than a month matter more than May and June, when his OPS was .955 and .918, respectively.
Obviously, if they can get a well-priced upgrade in LF, they should, but if they can’t, it’s hardly a crime to have Gardner in CF if he helps the team win.
Erica
I think Damon’s time with the Yankees are over. The organization even came out and said that he is not apart of the Yankees plans going forward.
He played himself out. He should have taken less money but he didn’t, and with the latest moves the Yankees made they are not going to spend more for Damon. I also don’t see Damon asking the Yankees for a contract.
Erica
Since Cash blew off your birthday, lets hope you get your Christmas wish
vhttp://msn.foxsports.com/mlbhttp://msn.foxsports.com/mlb
There’s a poll at the bottom right. You’ll be surprised at the results. Or not.
sorry-part of the Yankees plan going forward.
how about garrett anderson in LF?
Howard Cosell –
“Will Igawa reduce his salary to 1mm and hope to play in the majors?”
Funny. His only hope would be to pay back his salary plus every penny of that ridiculous posting fee, then offer to PAY the contract of a new position player such as Holliday (out of his own pocket, instead of himself BEING paid) in order to generate the offense needed to make up for his awful pitching.
And he’d still have to learn to live with being pulled by the 4th inning most of the time.
LF for 2010 Randy Winn. Switchhitter plays left of right , good defensively with a little speed. 1 yr 3-4 mil
don’t know where the ‘v’ came from…
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb
M: remove the v before http
m
The link doesn’t work because of the “v” on the left end.
MTU,
Trust me, I want Holliday. He’s the perfect fit for this team. But this is one case where I actually believe Cashman when he says that the team doesn’t want to add a significant amount of payroll
Kate-
Is satisfying erica’s obssession with Damon worth costing the rest of us another Championship.
I guess love conquers all.
I’d be willing to bet Gardner wasn’t swinging much in the playoffs because of his injury. I heard Girardi quoted somewhere that Garder was on the postseason roster for defense, and to run. Before his injury he was splitting time with Cabrera, and when he came back Cabrera was awful but Gardner still wouldn’t crack the starting lineup. Even the games where the matchups favored Gardner and everyone thought he would start he didn’t. I think his postseason numbers are no indication of what we’ll see from him next year. He’ll be fine out there.
“how about garrett anderson in LF?”
He needs to face the Yankees in order to be a MLer.
Stuckey, the key thing you said was “lower levels of the minors”. They have nothing close. I would feel differently if 1)the core of the team were younger or 2)Holliday would cost more. As it stands the Yankees have an ageing core and Holliday is at a discount. You could argue that 2010 will be the Yankees best chance at winning the Ws for quite some time due to the risk involved with ageing players. I’ve said all along that I don’t think the Yankees should sign Holliday at any price, but I do at this price…
marcus markley thame in a platoon with garrett anderson?
“how about garrett anderson in LF?”
—————————————-
he is FA?
if garrett anderson is not the #1 yankee killer, he is in the top 5
I’m sorry. I dont care about Gardner’s numbers for the short time he played. overall, he has looked overmatched at the plate, has not utilized his strength by bunting for hits, and often stands there as fastballs whizzzz by him. He is a good CF, but so is granderson. I dont think it is smart to move granderson to left, although i am sure he will never complain about it.
trust me, now that melky is not an option, i hope gardner has an mvp season and i will eat crow, but i am pretty confident i dont have to worry about it.
marcus markley thame in a platoon with garrett anderson?
—————————————-
no
Mick-
I have a suggestion for you.
Why dont we just stop of all of this guessing and just leave LF vacant for the season.
that way no one would be disappointed and we can just take another look at it next year.
sound good ?
mtu
that might work
MTU: it sound like you throwing in the towel?
randy winn isnt a bad idea
Mick-
we could just put Matsui’s wife out there as a placeholder
until next year.
The error rate might be a bit high though.
Christina25
December 23rd, 2009 at 8:33 am
The Phillies GM is not the Diamondbacks or the Braves GM. Did you think that they would give him for peanuts?
___
That is rather funny.
First, you stole my “peanuts.”
Second, did you forget the Diamondbacks handing Schill to the Sox for chicken scraps?
Did you also forget getting handed V Mart for Nick Hagadone (who will never have a career) and Justin Masterson (his career will be quite short)?
My sense is that Garrett Anderson will definitely become the number 1 Yankees killer if he is signed to play LF for the Yankees.
did i read the cubs were actually considering taking igawa in a deal for Zambrano?
“I’m sorry. I dont care about Gardner’s numbers for the short time he played. overall, he has looked overmatched at the plate,”
But you do, because you wrote him off based on part of April.
He may end up being awful, but he needs more time to prove or disprove that.
Vinny-
Has the last domino fallen yet ?
You ought to know me better by now.
(crazy yes, but determined).
blake
The Yankees will always being in contention. They have a good minor league system, and have already made a number of free agent moves to create a younger core.
I don’t see the urgency in getting Holliday especially since he is not worth a big time contract. The guy is not a Mark Tex. type player or hitter. We saw how average he was once he left the NL and Colorado. I say no thanks this team is already filled with top talent and I rather go after better guys during next years free agent class.
And how much is enough ? You do know that the 90′s teams didn’t have all stars throughout their entire lineup.
GTNYANND!
Guess the Next Yankee Acquisition Not Named Damon Contest!
Did you also forget getting handed V Mart for Nick Hagadone (who will never have a career) and Justin Masterson (his career will be quite short)?
LOL! How do you know that Hagadone will have no career and Masterson will have a short career? Are you a psychic?
considering we keep gardner and get a LF, we still need a 5th OF
2009 OPS+
Holliday 139
Damon 126
Byrd 106
Melky 99
DeRosa 99
Winn 75
Winn is really bad.
Blake, that’s fine and fair, but the part I don’t think you’re considering is that the Yankees internal evaluation of the FA LF options just may be different than yours.
You appear to be under the assumption are turning away a desirable option because they drew a line in the sand on payroll.
Now I’m not going or will even try to convince you Holliday isn’t the player you think he is, but that said, you should be able to equally consider the Yankees might not think Holliday is the player YOU think he is.
You’re no more right or wrong than me, anyone else, or the Yankees, but that said, it is an entirely subjective opinion – that Holliday is worth the cost of admission.
If the Yankees don’t think so, rather than they really, really like him but are being extreme about payroll, is it really worth going over and over it again and again?
The Yankees decision to pay or not Holiday $80m+ over 5 years might be being made independent of the outside factors you site.
“Best available” might not be a convincing enough argument to the Yankees to spend that sort of dough.
Argh. Damon on the Brain.
It’s GTNYANNNJ contest.
Guess the Next Yankee Acquisition Not Named Nicke Johnson contest.
m
I think Damon relents.
2011: Pay Pujols 40 M/ year and put him in LF. (he started there when he first came up no)?
Phil the Thrill,
Just to wrap up our prior conversation – on the whole I agree with you on Vizcaino. I was very surprised to see him in the deal and the team definitely had to absorb real pain there.
I wish they could have bargained wren off of vizcaino even if it meant giving up two other arms.
That said – the deal was one that was still highly favorable to the yanks and one they should have executed on.
maybe chad curtis can come back and platoon with somebody
“LOL! How do you know that Hagadone will have no career and Masterson will have a short career? Are you a psychic?”
I was alluding to the fact that they are both losers.
Regardless of whether they have careers or not, they were not “high up” on the Red Sox prospects lists (like the 200 other prospects that are).
I put “high up” in quotes because just about every minor leaguer to wear a Red Sox minor league uni is touted as the next great stud.
I cant wait to see Ryan Kalish bagging my groceries in a few years. I wonder if Peter Gammons will tout him as the greatest bagger in Walmart history?
Rich-
backwards.
I think we relent on Damon, and get Holliday.
Jeter
Johnson
Tex
Alex
Granderson
Jorge
Cano
Swisher – LF
Church – RF
Rich,
But do the Yankees reciprocate? I’m thinking, though. That they’d take him back for the $5-6M that’s being thrown around. And we see a lot of defensive replacements to save his legs.
m
December 23rd, 2009 at 11:05 am
GTNYANND!
Guess the Next Yankee Acquisition Not Named Damon Contest!
**********************
Darn, I can’t play. I’m still thinking (hoping??) that it will be Damon
Erica – always OPPC – Bring Johnny Back!!!
December 23rd, 2009 at 10:48 am
Johnny Damon??? Johnny Damon??????
Erica – don’t stop there…sing us the entire song…..
“Johnny Damon, how I love him.
He’s got something I can’t resist,
but he doesn’t even know that I exist.
Johnny Damon, how I want him.
How I tingle when he ice skates by.
Every time he waves “Hello” my heart begins to fly.
Other fellas call me up for a date,
but I just sit and wait, I’d rather concentrate …
… on Johnny Damon. ‘Cause I love him.
And I pray that someday he’ll love me.
And together we will see how lovely Yankee Stadium will be.”
christina25:
why didn’t your team sign Holliday intead of Cameron. Holliday is a better player, no?
and don’t say John Henry is saving his money for Mauer. Mauer will not be available. I’m not psycic – just connected
“How do you know that Hagadone will have no career”
Hagadone = left handed Brackman
Which might mean no career. Might mean they recover from injury and turn into pretty good MLB pitchers too.
Gardener:
2 things
didn’t anyone notice the hole in his bat last year ?
He needs to practice pounding nails into the ground with his bat so he can improve.
I got a feeling we’re getting Jermaine Dye.
Damon: Rich, Erin
Holliday: MTU (stuffing the ballot box with 25 online votes)
cant wait to see Ryan Kalish bagging my groceries in a few years. I wonder if Peter Gammons will tout him as the greatest bagger in Walmart history?
____
Dont forget the Man… the God…. THE Jed Lowrie. The greatest SS prospect in MLB history.
I don’t think the Yankees have any real outfield prospects in full season ball yet. It is either Holliday, Crawford, below average players or trade more of the prospects for an quality outfielder for a number of years to come. Even then, one can hardly count on a guy who was just drafted or hit .260 in the Gulf Coast League. I just don’t think the Yankees should have one of the worst offensive left fielders in baseball.
“I cant wait to see Ryan Kalish bagging my groceries in a few years. I wonder if Peter Gammons will tout him as the greatest bagger in Walmart history?”
—————————————————
if he can beat out Craig Hanson
When the Yankees wanted Jason Michaels, it was Wang and Cano that were demanded.
Thankfully for us, of course, as Jason Michaels is not good.
“I got a feeling we’re getting Jermaine Dye”
———————————————–
would rather roll with what we have then, Mike
if the yankees cant get crawford next year, they will make a trade for a better one then they have. dont worry…
Stuckey, that’s a fair point and if that’s the case then I have no problem with it. I don’t agree but I can’t argue if that’s how they feel.
my son got a hit off hanson in a HS playoff game
Holliday is bum. I just had to get that off my chest.
Happy Festivus everybody.
“2011: Pay Pujols 40 M/ year and put him in LF. (he started there when he first came up no)?”
Thought he started at 3B
m-
that aint against the rules is it ?
sorry about that.
A Festivus for the rest of us!
MTU
I don’t think the Yankees getting Damon means giving up on the season…and it would keep our GTLU hostess happy
m
is that a hint you are guessing Damon?
So, when are they signing Damon?
I was alluding to the fact that they are both losers.
How did you figure this out? Hagadone didnt even pitch in the major leagues and you call him a loser? Masterson has a trouble getting lefties out but he is very good against righties. Hardly a loser.
so now with javy, what are the chances the yankees hold to their offer to match offers wang gets?
Jed Lowrie, ah, the guy Rob Neyer said could be a Gold Glove SS right away, and IIRC, could step in at 3B and be a GG 3rd baseman too.
Good times at ESPN High.
Rob L.
December 23rd, 2009 at 11:15 am
Happy Festivus everybody.
*********************
That’s right, I forgot!!
Happy Festivus Yankee fans!!
upstate,
It could’ve been a Freudian slip (had Freud had a laptop!).
I don’t know. Me? I’d go with Gardner (for defense), and see what develops. Who knows, maybe midseason someone like DeJesus is made available?
how about a platoon of garrett anderson, randy winn, ty wigginton and chad curtis…pay em a total of 1 mill to split up evenly
christina25: you didn’t answer my question (RE: holliday)
“how about a platoon of garrett anderson, randy winn, ty wigginton and chad curtis…pay em a total of 1 mill to split up evenly”
Haha
Isn’t Winn old? Like really old?
Chip
I say No to Ryan Church ! Church sucks ! And he is a racist. We don’t need a racist in the Yankee clubhouse. Whats next ? are we going to invite some Klan members ? Say no to Church the racist.
“•Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News says (via Twitter) that the Cubs were willing to take on Kei Igawa’s salary (two years, $8MM) before the Yanks acquired Javier Vazquez. ”
I do not understand what this means. What is stopping the Cubs from taking him on now?
Could you imagine bringing Wang back as the 5th starter and having Joba and Hughes in the pen?
I don’t think the Yankees have any real outfield prospects in full season ball yet.
Austinmac – I think the only true OF prospect the Yankees have in full season ball is Abe Almonte who is still in the South Atlantic League (Low A) he’s compared to a very young Johnny Damon.
I wouldn’t be shocked if Brandon Laird gets moved to the outfield at some point.
m December 23rd, 2009 at 11:21 am
Isn’t Winn old? Like really old?
Baseballreference.com
“so now with javy, what are the chances the yankees hold to their offer to match offers wang gets?”
Depends on the offer and whether Wang thinks it’s the best opportunity for him. I think the Yankees getting Vazquez makes it more likely Wang won’t want to come back.
I think Sheffield is a FA.
Alert !
I’m changin’ my position on Holliday.
I have found the PERFECT solution for LF instead.
I have decided after giving it a great of thought, and trying to think outside the box
That
the position will just have to be left VACANT.
until next year.
We can revisit the idea again at that time.
My only real concerns are the effects it might have on the Yankees Offense and Defense.
And on the void it may leave going forward.
This is really the BEST solution I can come up with.
And I think it will work for everyone.
“I do not understand what this means. What is stopping the Cubs from taking him on now?”
Talent. The willingness to take Igawa and his contract would have been part of a deal in which the Yankees take Zambrano and his salary.
Vinny,
What was the question? I miss it.
mtu
that would solve the “budget” problem.
they could put a lemonade stand out in LF to raise money for the yankees
mick-
good point I didn’t even consider that benefit.
m
Unless Cash thinks that Damon’s demeanor would be affected by taking such a big pay cut (a general point he has made in the past), I think so.
If there is a sticking point beyond that, imo, it will be that Damon wants two years and the Yankees really need him to accept a one year deal.
christina:
why didn’t your team sign Holliday intead of Cameron? Holliday is a better player, no?
don’t say John Henry is saving his money for Mauer. Mauer will not be available. I’m not psycic – just connected
Mick-
I had another idea on how to fill the vacancy but I din’t really want to offend anyone. Cause I’m polite.
Damon is not coming back nor is he the answer. I can’t believe Francessa is pushing for him. His defense is not good and he won’t settle for less of a salary and come back feeling good about it. That ship has sailed.
We need a RH bat to fill the 5 hole. We can chase around short term options this year and maybe next year as well or we can sign the white elephant in our living room.
Cmon Hal step up and be a Steinbrenner
Mick-
If I only knew I wouldn’t offend Matsui. I would post it.
yankeeray
right now the obvious #5 hitter is jorge.
Mick-
It would make Erica somewhat happy though.
I call PJO, or MMO.
YankeeRay
Whether or not Damon comes back, what LF that costs approximately $5m is going to be able to be their #5 hitter?
Kinda of off topic.. But like some of you. I have some Met fans .
Honestly. don’t you feel kind of bad for them . Nobody wants to play for them ! I have some met fans that are so upset its not funny .
mick
December 23rd, 2009 at 11:32 am
yankeeray
right now the obvious #5 hitter is jorge.
——
I know that. But will Arod get pitched to with a DP waiting to happen on deck? With Holliday I would bat Tex 4th and at least Tex would get pitched to in the 4 hole vs Arod getting walked for Posada.
Rich in NJ
December 23rd, 2009 at 11:36 am
YankeeRay
Whether or not Damon comes back, what LF that costs approximately $5m is going to be able to be their #5 hitter?
—
There probably isn’t one. Thats why I am saying trade Gaudin to save a little money and step up and sign Holliday and put LF to rest for 4-5 years. Trading Swish next year when his salary escalates makes sense and we will free up 22mm with Pettitte and Javy to sign Lee. Next year we can go cheap in RF and in the 8 hole vs going cheap in LF and the 5 hole this year. Backload his contract and you can make it happen. Make sense?
I think what happened was they made an offer and told Boras that if he doesnt accept it they will move on. Last year they had no idea Tex’s wife didnt want to live in Boston. They actually thought that they will sign him when they flew to Texas. I bet when they got there they knew something is wrong and that is why Henry made his comments about not being players for Tex. After he signed and they found out that Tex always wanted to be a Yankee they were upset with Boras because they felt that he used them to drive up his price.I think they didnt want the same thing to happen again with Holliday. There is no doubt in my mind that they think the Yankees are involved with Holliday. They know that Holliday’s father is a Yankee fan so the odds of them signing Holliday are slim. Why do you think Mauer is not going to be a free agent? I bet he will test free agency and I can tell you that the Red Sox will go hard after him.
Holliday is a better player than Cameron.
YankeeRay
“There probably isn’t one. Thats why I am saying trade Gaudin to save a little money and step up and sign Holliday and put LF to rest for 4-5 years. Trading Swish next year when his salary escalates makes sense and we will free up 22mm with Pettitte and Javy to sign Lee. Next year we can go cheap in RF and in the 8 hole vs going cheap in LF and the 5 hole this year. Backload his contract and you can make it happen. Make sense?”
I think they would have to trade Swisher now to be able to sign Holliday. He’s coming off a good season, and teams could more easily justify paying him $9m next season by paying him less this season, so his AAV goes down.
“Honestly. don’t you feel kind of bad for them . Nobody wants to play for them ! I have some met fans that are so upset its not funny .”
I know a lot of Met fans, my own daughter is one. (I debated on calling Administration for Children’s Services over that. My poor baby was brainwashed by her mom and stepfather… I kid. Her stepfather is truly about the nicest guy on the planet, even if he is a Met fan).
The Met fans I know generally fall into two categories:
1) Suffering from Denial
2) Yankee-haters
Either way, their season will be a dismal one.
The only question is how much dreck I will have to listen to come July when the Mets are fading and the Yankees are surging. IMO Mets fans ought to storm the Bastille and take Omar and the stupid Wilpons out and flog them on Northern Boulevard.
“After he signed and they found out that Tex always wanted to be a Yankee they were upset with Boras because they felt that he used them to drive up his price.”
Oh dream on. Yeah, they were shocked that Boras used the Sox to drive up the price for the Yanks.
Repost
Backload the deal and it can work
86w183
December 23rd, 2009 at 9:06 am
Certainly Holliday makes this team better, but is it worth the cost of payroll/roster flexibility in 2011?
———-
What payroll flexibility will be needed? If we don’t win then everyone will want a Crawford signing for about the same amount. We don’t even know if he will be available or want to be a Yankee.
Holliday wants to be a Yankee from all indications or he would have signed already with the Cardinals.
This just makes too much sense as did the Tex signing.
He hits to all fields with power, hits for average and despite his gaffe in the playoffs is a pretty good defender.
Gardner will get plenty of opportunity to play defense for him and or swish late in games as will Hoffman. Hoffman can spell Grandy from time to time against lefties and Gardner will be running once a game for Posada in a double switch move then replacing an OF for defense. Thats flexibility.
Holliday needs to be in the 5 hole to protect the 4 hitter who for me in this lineup would be Tex.
Jeter RH
Johnson LH
Arod RH
Tex SH
Holliday RH
Posada SH
Cano LH
Swisher SH
Granderson LH
Is that a flexible line up that will get us #28?
Payroll flexibility comes next year when Pettitte and Javy come off the books and we look at trading Swishers escalating salary and signing Lee.
“I do not understand what this means. What is stopping the Cubs from taking him on now?”
Nothing, but without dumping a big salary, they have no interest in Igawa.
MTU
December 23rd, 2009 at 10:57 am
Kate-
Is satisfying erica’s obssession with Damon worth costing the rest of us another Championship.
I guess love conquers all.
***********
I really don’t think a one-year deal with Johnny Damon would cost the Yankees anything. The dude is still productive
“But if IPK, Bruney or Coke have post-trade careers like Javier has had?
Then I’d be pretty excited to get them back.
Besides all that “accountability” crap is overrated. You want to be accountable? Pitch better! Then you can say whatever you want.
And no one was less “accountable” than Joba last season and he’s not going anywhere.”
I am a definite hit and run poster this offseason so I apologize if people respond/question and I don’t respond in return. I saw this one so will respond to it.
Ted Lilly has a pretty damned good post trade career and I wouldn’t want him back. AGAIN – my premise is that there are pitchers who are not cut out to play in the Bronx. It doesn’t mean they won’t be brilliant elsewhere. I mentioned Vazquez’s attitude because I also think that didn’t help his cause.
AGAIN AND AGAIN – I am hoping that I am wrong in thinking that Vazquez isn’t cut out for the Bronx. But at least for the time being I think that bringing Vazquez back is a mistake. Time will tell if I am right or wrong.
The team is going to upgrade LF if for no other reason it would be one of the most efficient investments they could make.
Brett Gardner is a nice player for a particular role. But as a starter he very well could perform at replacement level for a LF. If his defense proves to be a remarkable as some people believe, he could be a game or so better than replacement.
Overall, Gardner doesn’t profile too much differently than Melky did. Only Gardner has significantly more uncertainty and a higher error surrounding his potential performance.
Given the market and the number of corner outfielders looking for jobs the yankees should be able to get an upgrade of a couple of wins out in LF for 5-8M.
They’ve assembled a very good team. But if Gardner or Hoffman can’t handle starting it will be much more expensive to try to upgrade during the season than it will now.
If nothing else they should just take a flier on Xavier Nady.
new thread
tex’s friend
December 23rd, 2009 at 10:59 am
I’m sorry. I dont care about Gardner’s numbers for the short time he played. overall, he has looked overmatched at the plate, has not utilized his strength by bunting for hits, and often stands there as fastballs whizzzz by him. He is a good CF, but so is granderson. I dont think it is smart to move granderson to left, although i am sure he will never complain about it.
trust me, now that melky is not an option, i hope gardner has an mvp season and i will eat crow, but i am pretty confident i dont have to worry about it.
=====
Well, look at it this way.
With Gardner batting ninth, Javy may feel right at home, for we will have a true National League lineup.
“AGAIN AND AGAIN – I am hoping that I am wrong in thinking that Vazquez isn’t cut out for the Bronx. But at least for the time being I think that bringing Vazquez back is a mistake. Time will tell if I am right or wrong.”
If Vazquez isn’t “cut out for the Bronx,” why did he have his best month in April, when stars like Teix, Sheff, Clemens, Tino, CC, etc. struggles as they acclimated themselves to the pressure of playing in NYC?
Perhaps because the pressure got to him as time went on. Contreras also had a pretty good start as I remember…
Oh dream on. Yeah, they were shocked that Boras used the Sox to drive up the price for the Yanks.
They did get upset with Boras. So upset that they didnt even want to talk to him about Varitek. He was calling them to talk and they wouldnt respond to him. Varitek then started calling on his own and told Henry that he wanted to come back to the Red Sox. Even after Varitek made contact with Henry they were not involved in the negotiations. Hoyer was the one who talked to Boras and completed the deal.
trisha – OPPC forever – (new lucky picture from last day at the old Stadium) BRING ON THE GHOSTS!
“Perhaps because the pressure got to him as time went on. Contreras also had a pretty good start as I remember…”
Even granting your point for the sake of argument, Vazquez had shoulder problems in the 2nd half of the season, so it would be hard to fairly parcel out how much of his declining performance was attributable to pressure.
Contreras was up and down:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....;year=2003
“so it would be hard to fairly parcel out how much of his declining performance was attributable to pressure.”
Time will tell.
Steve
I have some firends who are Mets fans and it is bad in terms of the situation they are in. But I can’t deny that the past couple of years haven’t been funny when it comes to the Mets performances. I swear I was cracking up laughing when they collapsed in 2007, 2008, and 2009 was the best one with all the dropped balls and base running mistakes and horrible pitching. The 2006 NLCS Yadier Molina homerun was funny too.
The Mets and the Cubs performances are pure comedy.
Good Luck Melky!
The Yankees don’t look like a finished product to me. Vazquez takes the pressure off the starting pitching, but I’d rather go within someone established in the fifth spot. Chamberlain and Hughes have given no indication that they can handle the job of a big league starter. It gets tiring watching the Ponson’s, Rasners, Karstens, Geise’s, Mitre’s, Gaudin’s, Small’s and Chacon’s of the world starting for the Yankees. They’ve got the means to do better. Get Bedard or Sheets. The outfield is a mess. No left fielder, Swisher can’t hit a breaking pitch to save his life and Granderson is useless against lefties. Need to beef up there. I’d start with DeRosa. After that someone young and fast who hits a lot better than Gardner.